A NEWPORT family of super-slimmers is starting the New Year a staggering 20 stones lighter.

Newport mum Lisa Parnell, 33, her brother Edwin Cox, 31, and their mother Irene Heard, 53, made losing weight a real family affair.

Lisa was recently voted Slimming World's Welsh Woman of the Year after shedding eight stones in just 11 months.

The mum-of-two from Church Road, St Brides, has shrunk dramatically from 17 stones to just under nine stones.

While Edwin and Irene are also shadows of their former selves after losing seven and five stones each.

The family was spurred into their pound-shedding by a summer holiday experience. Lisa told the Argus she was mortified when she sat down in the airport and the chair collapsed.

That was followed by the embarrassment of not being able to put the aeroplane tray flat across the seat.

She said: "When I came home and my mum asked me how the holiday had gone I just burst into tears.

"I knew I had to lose weight, it was now or never. Mum said she would do it with me and when my brother heard he decided to join us too.

"I was very nervous but with the support of my brother and mother I knew I could do it."

And the family ties don't end there. Lisa has involved her children.

She said: "It's really been a great education for them. By teaching them how to eat healthily I feel I'm giving them a much better start in life."

And there's no doubt the support of each other and their slimming group has been vital to their success.

Lisa said: "Before I've always tried to do it alone and it has never worked. The support and competition of others has really made the difference."

Now the family's success has inspired Lisa to help others by setting up her own Slimming World class.

She said: "It will give me the opportunity to give others the support and encouragement they need to help them change their lives and be happy with the way they look and feel."